Medical and Consulate Review - Van, Canada

[Chickaflick 0]

Oh I am SO thrilled to be writing this!

Hotel:

We stayed at the Days Inn Downtown. It wasn't the prettiest hotel but the location was awesome and the staff were pretty helpful. The elevator broke on our second day so we had to run up and down three flights of stairs which sucked hard, but it helped wear the kiddo energy level down a bit so I'm not going to complain TOO much lol! Its basically 2 blocks to the consulate, and about 20 minutes walking with the kid from the medical building. We walked back, but cabbed there.

Medical:

We arrived at the Burrard Medical Center at 5:45am. The entrance was not confuseing to me at all but I can see how some people think it is. There was one other man there when we got there, but by the time the lady showed up to open the gate, there was a huge pack of people. Apparently she was running late, because she came up the sidewalk we were standing on and mumbled something to us which was apparently "follow me" and everyone herded behind her. When we got to the second floor, she told us to take a number in the order we were standing outside and only one person really cut in line, but nobody really cared. We were #2, and #3. I put my kid in charge of holding the numbers but then boredom set in and it was a little hard. For some reason I thought we couldn't take electronics with us to the medical as well so I left her DS at the hotel. For any other parent doing the medical, take an activity bag!! We played I Spy, Thumb Wars and Paper, Rock Scissors until I thought I'd go insane. Paper work is basic, but cumbersome when there are two or more of you to sort out so prepare ahead of time. I divided her documents and pictures into one envelope, and mine in another so I just had to whip them out and clip then on with the paperclip. From there we were directed down a scary hallway, through a double set of doors to another waiting room for the blood work. We had to wait for it to open so we all sat and stared at eachother. During the bloodwork, my kid basically had to stand next to me. I made her turn around so she didn't see the needle but the bloodwork staff are very efficient and I was done super fast. Theres no time for a kid to get bored there. If your kid is older, I'd suggest just leaving them in the waiting room with their nose glued in their ds or dvd player or whatever you brought. The xray is also very efficient. My kid sat in the change cube and played the game on my cell phone. It took 5 minutes. In the exam, kids can leave underwear and an undershirt on. You stay in the exam room with them while the doctor does his thing. Mine is only 6 so there was not a lot of things to look at since she has only ever been sick one time in her life with the flu and thats it. She was done in seconds, and then one of the women from the front of the office took her out of the room (once she was dressed again) and took her to the front to colour while I had my exam. It was great!! When I was done, we did height, weight and eye tests, and then paid. We were done and out by 8:30am.

*FYI: He did not even read my medical records. I've had two major surgeries, and am on a perscription. He just had one question about my perscription, and then left. That was it!

Consulate Review:

Time in: 12:45pm.

Time out: 4:30pm

Moms/Dads, prepare to have your patience tested in a new and not-so-great way. There is NOTHING but ratty old beat up magazines, the worlds worst blue carpet and garage sale brass lamp in the waiting room. Nothing else. At all. Its brutal. Its set up for efficiency, not comfort or privacy at ALL. So if your kid(s) are like mine, prepare yourself mentally with every game that you can think of. I took two books but she was done with books apparently, and wanted nothing to do with them.

I had requested our interview for Thursday instead of the Wednesday afternoon that everyone seems to do. I decided early on that since I'd have kiddo with me, that I needed less stress between the two and I'm super glad I did it. Less stress. There was nobody in line when I got to the consulate. I was there at 12:45pm and my interview was scheduled for 1:00pm. Security combed through my two file folders, and escorted us upstairs. My kid asked the security guard in the elevator if he was ok because he looked sad and he laughed and told her a knock knock joke! I was totally not prepared for her to even speak to anyone let alone be that bold. At least they have a sense of humor behind their masks! In the waiting room, there was one other woman waiting (also a K1) so it was just the two of us and you could tell we were both a wreck of nerves! She was called to window B first, so kiddo and I played hop scotch on the blue square carpet tiles. When I was called to window B guess what I discovered? I FORGOT TO DO ONE OF THE FORMS! *panic* So Ophelia (that was the name of the lady behind the counter) escorted kiddo and I to another waiting room with a computer, calmed me down, and introduced me to another nice lady who helped me do the form I missed. I felt like a total idiot! Anyway, while we were in there, they offered us water, and gave my kiddo a sandwich! I was totally shocked at how nice and calming they were. After the forms were done, I went back to window B, handed them in, and was directed to the cashier.

The cashier was watching a special on hurricane Earl. I pressed the button about 5 times. We stood there for 20 minutes waiting. My kid was bouncing off the chair behind me. My stress level was rising (if that was possible) and unless your child is made of patience, they will be off the wall by this point. I used Ice Cream as a bribe and she sat down in her chair and behaved for a bit. Eventually hurricane Earl went on commercial, and she let me pay. We were directed back to wicket #6 where I was fingerprinted, but not kiddo. Shes too young. No fingerprints unless they are 16 or over.

Then we waited. The consular officer sat down at the wicket directly across from us and proceeded to thumb through the documents for the other K1 applicant. He was quiet and I was trying not to pay attention to him but then he started talking to my kid! He played a game with her (a name game) and when I took over with her he gave her hints while we played. It was so cute. He also asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink, and I declined- totally shocked that they offered in the first place! If felt like saying yes would be an impostition, so it was a little weird to me but super nice! He told me he was a father and admitted the office was not a child friendly place. By this time it was around 3:00pm. He called up the other applicant, and kiddo and I moved down a few chairs to give them privacy. I also didn't want to hear her questions so I didn't freak myself out. He was about 15 minutes with her. When they were done he called up my kiddo and told her to get her mom. Interview time! He started the interview asking me if I had ever been to Jamaica... I have no idea what that was about because I've never been but he typed up a novel. Then we talked about some off topic things, and then a few personal things, and then he talked a lot about Gelato, the Olympics, and the type of interviews he's done. He told me a few stories about fraud interviews and human trafficing interviews, and the entire time my kid was crawling on the floor pretending to be a dog and barking at people as they walked by. I'd interrupt him to shush her and he'd laugh. Thank GOD he had a sense of humour. My kid had reached her limit before my interview started and he knew she had. He told me he knew she was putting on a show. So he cut to the short and sweet, told me I was approved, welcomed me, congratulated us, and then... he said OH one more question! He then asked my daughter how she liked her future step dad. She smiled at said "he's the best!" and then he laughed. I thanked him a million times, and got my kid outta there before she said anything else!

At window B again I learned something interesting. They do not do next day visa pick up. Its 2 day visa pick up. Ophelia insisted it was 2 day, and she told me it was "impossible" to get it the next day. I was shocked, even the consular officer confirmed that I could pick up the next day after 2! Regardless, she gave me her phone number to call her directly to see if the visa's were ready, but still made me run across the street to buy a 13x16 xpresspost envelope. When I called her close to departure time, there was no answer so I left a message telling her to just mail it and I thanked her for trying and wished her a swell long weekend. I called back an hour later to make sure she got the message and she told he they were just finished and she had taken it to the mail!

So... thats that. Bottom line: Pack a bag for the kids for the medical, and if they have to come to the interview, prepare yourself for a battle if they are younger. Its not pretty, but they are pretty good about it.

Edited September 4, 2010 by Chickaflick

[TimandJoyce 1]

Wow!! They didn't offer me anything!

Interesting. Almost didn't sound like you went to Vancouver. Do you have the Bank of Nova Scotia where you live? That's how I paid for my visa. I printed off the deposit slips from the computer, took them, (with the money..)to the bank in my hometown and that was that. I paid for my visa long before I had my interview.

Good thing about if someone forgets a form, and you can fill it out there. I'm sure it probably happens, as people get nervous, have so much on their mind, etc.

I'm surprised too, about not being able to pick it up the next day. I'm almost positive she told me I could have done that, but I was leaving that night and brought an envelope. I left on the Wednesday, and got my passport and visa on Friday.

I guess they changed things up a tad over there. I apologize in case I gave you any information to think otherwise.

Great review though. Sounds as if you had a great and understanding consular. It must be so hard on children to be there that long. The staff all know how active they can be. That's sweet how they helped you keep her entertained some. Can't wait to hear about your POE and marriage!

Edited September 4, 2010 by TimandJoyce

[OBX 51]

Great review. Vancouver staff sound very accommodating..offers of food no less.

Congratulations!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Wow - what an adventure! Thanks for the review - it was great to read.